How to Replace an Aluminum Screen on a Screen Door

Replacing an aluminum screen is an easy task. Screening comes in metal or fiberglass. Whichever you use, replacing an aluminum screen on a screen door is a useful skill to have and one you're likely to need several times over the years to come — particularly if you have kids or pets.

Get your replacement screen at a home center or hardware store. Be sure to choose a screen that is a few inches longer and wider than your screen opening. For this project you'll also need a splining roller, a work surface, a pair of pliers (or an awl). If your replacement screen is larger than necessary, you'll need a pair of scissors strong enough to cut through the material you purchased.

Remove the frame and lay it flat on a work surface.

Pry the spline out of the groove on the back of the frame.

Use small pliers or a carpenter’s awl to pry the spline out of the groove. If the corners are tight, use a screwdriver to remove the spline. If the spline appears to be in good shape, set it aside for use with the new screen.

If the spline is brittle or cracked, you must replace it with a new spline (available at hardware stores).

Press the spline into the groove using the concave end of the roller.

Tip: Don’t cut the spline at the corners: Instead, bend the spline around the corners and install it in one continuous piece. When you position it tightly in the groove, the spline holds the screen in place.